‘We Will Not Accept Lame Excuses’: SC Pulls Up ECI Over Missing Sringeri Poll Footage
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Election Commission of India (ECI) for failing to trace the video recording of the 2023 vote counting in Karnataka’s Sringeri Assembly constituency, warning that it could draw an adverse inference if the poll body failed to produce the available records.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva expressed strong displeasure after the Commission’s counsel informed the court that the original counting footage could not be traced.
“How can the Election Commission of India say that it has lost the records? Your whole purpose is to hold an election, and you need to have a document. Where is the question of you saying we are trying to trace it?” the bench reportedly asked.
The court directed the Election Commission to produce whatever records it has at the next hearing.
Congress Leader Challenges Revised Sringeri Election Result
The case concerns Congress leader TD Rajegowda’s challenge to the revised election result in Sringeri, where he initially won the seat in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
BJP candidate Jeevaraj subsequently challenged the result before the Karnataka High Court. The high court directed a recount of postal ballots, including the reverification of 279 rejected postal votes as per reports.
Following the recount, the Returning Officer declared Jeevaraj the winner, overturning the original result. Rajegowda then approached the Supreme Court to challenge the revised outcome.
Supreme Court Granted Interim Relief in May
In May, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to Rajegowda, directing that he continue as a Member of the Legislative Assembly while his plea remained pending.
Rajegowda has sought access to the election observer’s report and video recordings of both the original counting in 2023 and the recount conducted this year.
The missing footage became a point of contention during Wednesday’s hearing, with the bench questioning how the Election Commission could be unable to locate records relating to an election it had conducted.
Next Hearing on February 15, 2027
The Supreme Court has reportedly posted the matter for further hearing on February 15, 2027.
The Election Commission is expected to produce the records available to it at the next hearing, following the court’s warning that failure to do so could lead to an adverse inference.
